Hawaiian Island Gypsy

About Hawaiian Island Gypsy

Israkadjira Cengi, Hawaiian Island Gypsy, has bellydanced on stages throughout Oahu, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii (and now Portland, OR, too!) since 1993. Ten years later, she began teaching professionally her own style of belly dance, combining her expertise and experience in Middle-Eastern, African, East Indian, Indonesian, Okinawan, and gypsy dances. Before moving to the Big Island in 1993, Israkadjira danced African style extensively with the Sun Drum Village of East Oahu under the direction of Master Drummer Michel Seguin. What began as passionate dance, developed and harmonized into avid passion and endless devotion for the drum, the rhythm, the beat, and the alternating silence, as well. From this creative experience, Israkadjira also adds the fiery element of percussive dance to her dance portfolio. Follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Israkadjira for the latest updates! ..... Israkadjira was raised on the island of Oahu and grew up outdoors spending copious amounts of time hiking into the backwoods, hills, mountains, and valleys there. This passion for exploring raw nature and the rugged outdoors, her experience with high school acrosport gymnastics and a personal yoga practice which straightened a medically diagnosed curvature of the spine, laid the foundation for dance later in life. A sporadic interest in hula blossomed under the direction of Kumu Hula Ehulani Stephany (Halau Hula Ka Makani Hali Ala O Puna) beginning in 2005. Gifted her Hawaiian name, Mahiehie (www.facebook.com/Mahiehie), she seeks to empower women through creative expression and to build bridges of cultural harmony and international peace. ..... Life, Glorious Life!" ..... DANCE! Israkadjira Cengi delights in providing audiences of all ages with fun, engaging bellydance choreography catered to every occasion! From "belly-gram" snapshots, to full evening's entertainment, dance holistic fitness/healing workshops and more, Israkadjira fills the plate with exotic tastes sure to tantalize the senses! Sword balancing, veil twirling, finger cymbals clanging, anklets jingling, coin-dripped hips shimmying, hoop spinning, vivid colors flashing - a visual treat! For the expectant mother, Israkadjira enthusiastically offers "BIRTHDANCE", a collection of dances and meditations geared to train mothers to exstatically dance their babies into the new, glorious world. ..... POETRY, MUSIC and STORY! Israkadjira provides sweet, island-influenced original songs to serenade you into the night, with accompaniment on her guitar, ukulele, accordion or djembe drum and percussion instruments. She gladly shares her stories of growing up local in Hawai'i, interspersed with illustrations in creative art, song and hula. Weaving in the island's enchanting tales of gods and goddesses, demi-gods and the heroic men and women of Hawaiian history, she tells mesmerizing stories that come alive with insight and meaning as she channels under the light of Kalama (Inspiration and Intuition). ..... ART! Let Israkadjira guide you into the finer realms of play: create, imagine, enjoy! Art for art's sake, art for release, art for expression, art as a cure for depression. REVISIONIST ART encourages you to take a look at the world again through freshened eyes. Israkadjira's fine arts specialty and interests are in photography, graphic arts, recycled art, origami, mosaic, mobiles, costume design, and portraiture. ..... HENNA! For weddings, ceremonies, special occasions, or when you just want to feel good, Israkadjira offers henna healing mandalas and bindrunes, healing plant dyes (olena and gentian violet), resin-based "fake" tattoos (harquus), jagua, and acrylic enhanced body art. ..... HEALING! A REIKI Master and natural intuitive healer, Israkadjira is available for treatments and attunements to Reiki Levels 1 and 2. In treatment, she combines training received in shamanic healing workshops and works closely in tune with her spiritual guides, aumakua and ancestors. A leader in action, she seeks to empower women everywhere utilizing teachings from various traditional and mystical/spiritual sources. ..... TAROT AND RUNES! Meditative and psychic guidance are gently discussed as these ancient, mystical divination symbols are read professionally by Israkadjira. Tarot and Runes readings are available in private or group sessions. ..... CEREMONY! Israkadjira works closely in tune with her spiritual guides, aumakua, and ancestors to assist you in any ritual/ceremonial/festivities planning or guided meditation. ..... Email contact: hawaiianislandgypsy@yahoo.com